Where is the Money?

     Being an over thirty graduate student, I often tend to think about how I will live out my life’s dreams once I graduate. I cannot help but think about which path I should take concerning my future finances. It seems so obvious to everyone that because I love to sing and I am an Entertainment Business student, surely I am setting my self up for a solo career in singing. Surely?

     Well after years of personal experience and listening to so many others, I have learned that making “good” money, as a singer, is so hard that it is almost impossible. When I say good, I am speaking of a type of lifestyle one should attain by the popularity of their music. Let me explain my thoughts, if you are a top selling artist then the money you make should be able to afford you a luxurious life, if that is your preference. If you are a great singer with or without an album but work consistently, you should be able to independently support yourself, at least I think so.

     I ran across this article the other day that I wish was shocking to read. AloeBlacc claims he has earned less than $4,000 from digital media for co-writing and singing on the 2013 major hit song, “Wake Me Up” by Avicii. How is it possible that a song that literally everyone in the world has heard at least twice has a media return of less than $4,000? That is so hard to wrap my brain around yet deep down, I know that this is truth to many others. So, what is an artist to do? Well everyone knows that if you are looking for the answer to something, you go to Google. To my dismay, there were not many links with great answers. I did find one website that promised to teach me how to become a professional singer easily. They devoted one page to this issue, one short page. I read it, laughed a little, and even agreed with some of it but cannot honestly say I learned anything new. I ended my search and settled with this conclusion, keep singing for enjoyment and not as my only financial source. If for some reason I gain overwhelming recognition that allows me to prosper financially then great, but it will not be the central focus of why I sing.